Continuous passage of metal slabs through heating furnace

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for continuously passing metal slabs through a heating furnace, in which the slabs are pushed in abutting relationship and are supported on at least one chain which slides under the action of the slabs along a trough extending through the furnace. The trough is preferably recessed longitudinally in a cooling pipe.

United States Patent Sanderson July 17, 1973 CONTINUOUS PASSAGE OF METALSLABS [56] References Cited THROUGH HEATING FURNACE UNITED STATES TS[75] lnventor: Karl Sanderson, King City, Ontario, 3,380,722 4/1968Sopchack 263/6 R Canada 3,374,996 3/l968 K'cough; 263/8 R 3,489,398l/l970 Hunt A r A 263/8 R [731 A5518nee= Wllsm' Enflmeermg C0mPany of1,700,366 1 1929 Fahrenwald 263/6 R Canada Ltd., Downsview, Ontario,Canada; a part Interest Primary Examiner-John J. Camby {22] Filed: Oct.1, 1970 Attorney-Westell 8L Hanley 21 A l.N.:77l18 1 pp v 57 ABSTRACT Amethod and apparatus for continuously passing [3O] Forelgn ApplicationPriority Data metal slabs through a heating furnace, in which the Jan.-12, 1970 Canada 71862 slabs are pushed in abutting relationship and areported on at least one chain which slides under the ac- [52] US. CL,432/6, 432/11, 432/126, tion of the slabs along a trough extendingthrough the 432/234 furnace. The trough is preferably recessedlongitudi- [51] Int. Cl. F27b 9/24 any in a cooling pipe [58] Field ofSearch 263/6 R, 8 Y

' 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENmJuu 1191s I SHEEF 1 0F 2 INVENTOR.SANDERSON KARL PATENTEBJULI 7 I973 SHEET 2 OF .2

KARL

CONTINUOUS PASSAGE OF METAL SLABS THROUGH HEATING FURNACE The presentinvention relates to the heating of metal shapes and more particularlyto the continuous passage of metal shapes such as steel slabs through areheating furnace.

In the high temperature reheating of metal slabs for the production offinished steel shapes, the slabs are usually passed through a reheatingfurnace continuously, in some cases by means of a conveyor, to providefor an uninterrupted supply. Such conveyors are constructed withjournalled parts such as roller bearings but these incur highmaintenance costs. It has been suggested to slide the slabs through thefurnace on fixed rails but this procedure leaves skid markings on theslabs which lower the quality of the finished steel. To overcome theproblem of skid markings, walking" mechanisms have been developed whichmove the slabs step-by-step through the furnace. In the construction ofsuch means of conveyance, a longitudinal series of inner, water-cooledmovable frames are bracketed by a set of second water-cooled fixed outerframes. In operation, the movable frame rises and lifts a slab from thefixed frame, carries the slab forward a set distance, lowers the slabagain to rest on the fixed frame, and retracts whereupon the slab ispicked up in the same manner by the next sequence of operation. Not onlyis the construction and the maintenance of this walking mechanismcostly, but it uses considerable quantities of water for coolingpurposes with consequent additional fuel costs. 1

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by pushing the slabsin abutting relationship through a furnace on a skid of simplifiedconstruction.

An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view in elevation of a heatingfurnace having a skid;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the skid; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a reheatingfurnace is provided with one or more skid lines 1 1 running through thefurnace from its entrance opening 12 to its exit opening 13, as seen inFIG. 1. Each line 11 consists of a pair of parallel pipes 14 running thelength of furnace 10 and supported by a series of lateral, arched pipes15 forming cross members. Both longitudinal pipes 14 and lateral pipes15 are connected with water circulation means (not shown). Recessed intothe upper portion of each longitudinal pipe 14 is a channel or trough 16opening upwardly. Trough 16 is preferably rectangular in crosssectionwith a flat, horizontal bottom surface 16' located within the innercircumferential surface 17 of pipe 14. By this construction, each pairof pipes 14 provides a pair of tracks running the length of furnace 10.

A series of spaced blocks 18 cooperate with each track 16 and theseblocks are connected by links 19 through pivot pins 20 to form anendless articulated 6 gular in transverse cross-section of a size torest on the bottom surface 16' of trough 16 with shoulder 23 projectingupwardly above the trough, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 of thedrawings. Blocks 18 are spaced a suitable distance for a pair to supportone side of a metal slab. I

Chain 21 extends the length of furnace 10, passes over idlers 24 locatedoutside the furnace, adjacent entrance opening 12 and exit opening 13,and is coupled with an auxiliary drive apparatus 25. Each skid line 11consists of a pair of chains 21 and their associated troughs l6.Suitable feeding means such as a conveyor 26 contiguous with skid line11, is located outside entrance opening 12 of furnace 10. Similarly,suitable transfer means such as a conveyor 27 is located outside exitopening 13 of furnace l0 and contiguous with skid line 11. 4

In the operation of the'described embodiment, skid line 11 stands idleuntil activated by slabs 30 which are fed onto it by feed conveyor 26.Each slab 30 comes to rest on a plurality of shoulders 23 of blocks 18as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the forward movement of the slab, whenpushed in the direction of arrow 31 by subsequent slabs being fed ontoskid line 11, causes chains 21 to skid or slide along bottoms 16 oftroughs 16 with no relative movement between the slabs and the shouldersof the blocks on which the slabs rest. If desired, the forward motion ofchains 21 in furnace 10 can be aug mented by auxiliary drive 25. Whenslabs 30, moving on skid line 11 in this manner, traverse furnace l0 andleave through exit opening 13, conveyor 27 picks up each reheated slaband carries it away for working. During the operation of the furnace,cooling fluid, preferably water, is circulated continuously throughpipes 14 and 15, as indicated by arrows 32 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

It will be seen that the apparatus of the invention has no complexmoving parts to construct and maintain. Also, the reduced amount ofcirculatory piping for the cooling system reduces both capital andmaintenance costs as well as water and fuel consumption.

It will be appreciated that a single line of blocks 18, forming a singleendless chain 21 sliding in a single trough 15, could be used in placeof a pair of such chains and troughs if the blocks were suitably adaptedto support a slab.

I claim: 1. A method of passing metal slabs through a heating furnace,comprising:

delivering successive slabs each to rest on at least one bearing blockand in abutting relationship; and

sliding the block, by pushing successive slabs through the furnace,along a trough adapted to receive the block and extending through thefurnace.

2. A method as defined in claim l'in which the slab is delivered to reston at least two bearing blocks slid along a parallel pair of saidtroughs.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 including the step of cooling thetrough by circulating fluid along the outer side thereof.

4. Apparatus for passing metal slabs through a reheating furnace,comprising:

at least one line of blocks articulated one with another to form anendless chain, each block being adapted to support a slab and beingspaced .whereby the slabs may rest thereon in abutting relationship; and

a trough adapted to receive the endless chain, the

blocks being adapted to slide, by delivery of successive slabs to restthereon in abutting relationship, longitudinally in the trough whileprojecting above the trough. V

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including means extending along theoutside of the trough for cooling the trough. i

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the trough extends thelength of the heating furnace between an entrance opening and an exitopening, and in- 9; Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the chaincompriseslinks pivotally interconnecting the blocks spaced the'realong.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which each block has a raisedbearing portion adapted to support a slab, at least the bearing portionof the block projecting above the trough.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which each block has a flatsliding bottom portion and a top portion raised to form a shoulderhaving a flat upper bearing surface thereon, the trough having a flatinner bottom portion.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which each block is rectangularin transverse cross-section with a raised bearing porton comprising ashoulder having a flat upper bearing surface thereon, the trough beingalso rectangular in cross-section, the cooling means comprising a pipehaving the trough recessed longitudinally into its upper portion andbeing adapted to pass circulating cooling fluid therealong.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in' which the cooling meanscomprises a pipe having the trough recessed longitudinally into itsupper portion, the pipe being supported within the furnace by aplurality of transverse pipes adapted to pass circulating cooling fluidalong said transverse pipes. I

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which a pair of said endlesschains are adapted to support a slab, together with a pair ofsubstantially parallel troughs each adapted to receive one of saidchains.

1. A method of passing metal slabs through a heating furnace,comprising: delivering successive slabs each to rest on at least onebearing block and in abutting relationship; and sliding the block, bypushing successive slabs through the furnace, along a trough adapted toreceive the block and extending through the furnace.
 2. A method asdefined in claim 1 in which the slab is delivered to rest on at leasttwo bearing blocks slid along a parallel pair of said troughs.
 3. Amethod as defined in claim 1 including the step of cooling the trough bycirculating fluid along the outer side thereof.
 4. Apparatus for passingmetal slabs through a reheating furnace, comprising: at least one lineof blocks articulated one with another to form an endless chain, eachblock being adapted to support a slab and being spaced whereby the slabsmay rest thereon in abutting relationship; and a trough adapted toreceive the endless chain, the blocks being adapted to slide, bydelivery of successive slabs to rest thereon in abutting relationship,longitudinally in the trough while projecting above the trough. 5.Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including means extending along theoutside of the trough for cooling the trough.
 6. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 4 in which the trough extends the length of the heating furnacebetween an entrance opening and an exit opening, and including meansadjacent the entrance opening of the furnace tO deliver slabs onto theendless chain for support by a plurality of the blocks and meansadjacent the exit opening of the furnace to receive the heated slabsfrom the endless chain.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 includingauxiliary drive means mounted outside the furnace and coupled with theendless chain.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the coolingmeans comprises the pipe having a trough recessed longitudinally in itsupper portion, the pipe being adapted to pass circulating fluidtherealong.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the chaincomprises links pivotally interconnecting the blocks spaced therealong.10. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which each block has a raisedbearing portion adapted to support a slab, at least the bearing portionof the block projecting above the trough.
 11. Apparatus as defined inclaim 4 in which each block has a flat sliding bottom portion and a topportion raised to form a shoulder having a flat upper bearing surfacethereon, the trough having a flat inner bottom portion.
 12. Apparatus asdefined in claim 4 in which each block is rectangular in transversecross-section with a raised bearing porton comprising a shoulder havinga flat upper bearing surface thereon, the trough being also rectangularin cross-section, the cooling means comprising a pipe having the troughrecessed longitudinally into its upper portion and being adapted to passcirculating cooling fluid therealong.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim4 in which the cooling means comprises a pipe having the trough recessedlongitudinally into its upper portion, the pipe being supported withinthe furnace by a plurality of transverse pipes adapted to passcirculating cooling fluid along said transverse pipes.
 14. Apparatus asdefined in claim 4 in which a pair of said endless chains are adapted tosupport a slab, together with a pair of substantially parallel troughseach adapted to receive one of said chains.